Rotary copper-plate printing press



Oct. 30, 1934.

F. VON HEINRICH ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 17, 1931 Inf/c7212? rLedn ch vcm He umn da Oct. 30, 1934. F.VON HEINRICH 1,979,086

ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS Filed June 17, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 2III 2 5 gzii iif- V I 1 I v 5N N .2 4w 3 EL Q I L 3 4 w P g N m mm mm 22 2 i 2 m an 3 II: \I

- fur/enfor- Fvgedrkch von Hdnnch I HTT'\\/ 1934- F. VON HEINRICH ROTARYCOPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS Filed June 1'7. 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3Iivenfaw o 3 1934- F. VON HEINRICH 1,979,086

I ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS Filed June '17, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet4 Inventor FngcLrmh on Hei nrmh 1 MQL Oct. 30, 1934. F. VON HEINRICH1,979,086

ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS Filed June 17, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5Inventor:

riednrlch von Hehwflch Oct. 30, 1934. F. VON HEINRICH 1,979,086

ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS a '1 T T T Inventor.-

Frl ed Ugh won Hem r ch 4 RTT Oct. 30, 1934.

F. VON HEINRICH 1,979,086

ROTARY COPPER PLATE PRINTING PRESS Filed June 17, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 7Ma y 2 I 71 F I 97 BY v ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ROTARY COPPER-PLATE PRINTING PRESS Hungary ApplicationJune 17, 1931, Serial No. 544,951 In Germany December 29, 1930 9 Claims.(Cl. 101156) The object of the invention is to provide a rotarycopper-plate printing press, which, while rendering the printingoperation completely automatic, retains all the advantages of theexisting methods of hand printing. These advantages include thepossibility of controlling the inked and completely wiped plates, whichcan also be given a final wipe by hand at convenient Working level. Theyalso include means for precisely l0 regulating the setting of the wipermaterial feeding, the damping of the damp wiper while the machine isrunning, further the tension of the wiper material is easedautomatically when wiping. Owing to this arrangement the task of wipingis performed as in the manual operation, without tightening the pad, andso is the variable adjustability of the wiping pressure in each zone ofthe plate, and the adjustable inking in all zones of the plate. Otherobjects of the invention are; the possibility, as in the usual manualprocess, of being able to examine the prints directly after impression,and the provision of devices for placing an offset-sheet above eachprinted sheet. With certain precautions, this press is also applicableto rainbow-style copper-plate printing.

It' has been ascertained that certain kinds of paper can be damped, soas to be suitable for printing shortly beiore'impression, so thatprintingcan proceed without any expansiondue to p moisture. Accordingly,a further object of the invention is to provide a device for dampingthepaper shortly before printing, and a still further object of theinvention is-to ensure accurate register in printing. e

According to the invention, there is disposed below the plate cylinderan impression cylinder. The perimeter of the plate cylinder is formed byseveral printing beds adapted to be heated. The diameter of theimpression cylinder is such a 0 part of the plate cylinder as there areprinting beds on the latter. Chains carrying-gripperrods are passedround the impression cylinder on both sides, said chains issuing fromthe impression zone of the cylinder and, by means of their gripper rods,laying the finished sheets on a tray ferred to the gripper rods on thechains. The

chains convey them underneath the delivery trays and over jockey rollersto the impression cylinder. In order to enable an offset sheet to beplaced above each printed sheet, reciprocating rods are arranged to moveabove the delivery tray and below the gripper chains. The rods bring theoifset sheets from a lateral feed table into position above the tray bymeans of terminally mounted retractible grippers, and, during theirreturn stroke, deliver the paper, which is retained by means of stops,on to the pile in the delivery tray.

The sheet fed to the impression cylinder by the gripper chains isdamped, on reaching the cylinder, by means of a device mounted thereon,so that its surface is ready for the impression. The time elapsingbetween the damping of the surface of the' paper and the attainment ofthe said state of readiness varies, and the damping device isaccordingly arranged so that the damping member can be moved over thesurface of the impression cylinder in the direction of, or away from,the printing zone.

The plate cylinder itself is built up of a number of printing beds whichare adapted to be heated and on to which are clamped the printing platesconsisting of thin flexible metal sheets, such as offset plates. Theseplates are inked by an inking gear, which is mounted on that side of theplate cylinder which faces the sheet feed. The inking mechanism itselfconsists of an inking roller, which revolves in a direction opposite tothe movement of the plate cylinder. The ink is transferred from theinking cylinder to the inking roller by intermediate rollers. The inkingcylinder takes up ink from the ink duct, the amount being regulated inknown manner. The inked plate passes to a rubbing-in roller, which alsorotates in the opposite direction to the plate cylinder and describes,in addition, an axial reciprocating movement. The surplus ink is removedfrom this rubbing-in roller by means of a reciprocating roller whichruns over the rubbing-in roller,

and from which the ink is removed by a non- If, in succession to thedamp wiper, the series ofprinting preparing devices-inking gear,rubhing-in roller and three wipers,-is repeated round the periphery ofthe plate cylinder, the press is suitable for rainbow-style copper-plateprinting. In order to provide increased accommodation for these devices,the periphery of the plate cylinder may be enlarged, either byincreasing the size of the printing beds or of the intervening gaps, orby employing a larger number of printing beds than for presses withoutthe rainbow-style attachment.

Owing to the described disposition of the devices which make the platesready for printing and, of the sheet feed and delivery devices, theprepared plates revolve in a readily accessible manner, and at aconvenient working level, with respect to the impression cylinder. TheWipers are actuated from the outside, that is to say, raising from, andlowering onto, the plates, as well as the actual wiping movement, areimparted to the wipers by means of bolts, on to which they are slippedand secured by screwing or locking means. These bolts are seated, atboth sides, on slides which can be displaced parallel to the axis of theplate cylinder thus performing a transverse movement. The displacement,or reciprocatory movement, is imparted only to one of these slides,while the other, which is connected with the wiper mechanism, shares thereciprocatory movement and merely serves for guidance. This slide may bemounted on balls or rollers, and is actuated, by means of avariable-throw eccentric through balljointed drawbars, and a bell-cranklever pivoted on the machine frame. Circular slides, enabling the guides'of the upper slide to oscillate in a path concentric withthe axis ofthe plate cylinder, may be provided underneath the transverse slides.The circular slides must be actuated on both sides and, preferably atdouble the speed of the transverse slides. This movement, too, isproduced by variable-throw eccentrics, through drawbars, and a levermechanism mounted" on the machine frame. The cross slides, whichdescribe a. sinoidal line. as the resultant wiping movement, and alsothe circular slides if such be provided and which. distort the sinoidalline, are mounted on rising and falling slides, which enable the entiresystem, and therefore the wipers, to be raised and lowered by means ofguides disposed radially in relation to the plate cylinder. The movementis produced by strikers displaceably mounted on rings in two concentricannular zones onthe cheeks of the plate cylinder.

Two short shafts, carrying eccentric pins on the ends facing the machineframe, are mounted in the rising and falling slides, so that the pinsengage with a member which is slidable in a guide attached to themachine frame. By turning said shafts through 130, the rising andfalling slides may be brought into their highest or lowest positions.The rotation of the shafts. through 180 is effected by teeth beingprovided thereupon which engage with pinions of larger pitchline andwhich areconnected, by'means of two bolts in each case. with twodrawbarscarrying the impact rollers encountered by the aforesaidstrikers.

, As a result of this the angular displacements sustained by the largerpinions in turning the smaller ones through 180" bring said rollersalternately into the Zone of the outer strikers, or into that of theinner strikers. By adjusting the impact roll ers on theconnecting barsbetween the "larger pinions, the individual" wiping devices can beraised and lowered at different intervals by the same strikers as thestrikers revolve past them.

it from, the plate, are removed by the succeeding wiper.

The wipers themselves are composed of two cheek pieces in which therollers are mounted and which are connected by a crossbar. The entirelength of the crossbar carries the wiper pads by means of adjustablesprings. Projecting outwards from the cheek pieces on both sides arebrackets, between which the slip-on sleeves are movably mounted on pins.Two pairs of rollers are disposed one on each side of the wiper pad, theouter roller of one pair being actuated. Obliquely above this actuatedroller and above the inner roller of the pair, is another roller. Overthis roller and the underlying actuated roller is stretched arubber-cloth which bears tightly against the inner roller of the pair.Above these three rollers is a detachably mounted spindle, and abovethis again is a second spindle also detachably mounted and actuated bymeans of a friction drive. The first detachable spindle carries thestock reel of wiper material which is-drawn between the endlessrubber-cloth and the inner roller of the relating pair. The stock reelreceives a positive movement through the friction of the rubber-cloth.In its further course, the wiper material is drawn under the wiper-pads,underthe inner and over the outer roller of the other pair, and thenback under the wiper pad again turned outwards over the actuated rollerand led to the frictionally-driven winding spindle.

If, instead of a double layer of wiper material on the pads, four or sixlayers are desired, the material, instead of passing directly to thewinding spindle, is led once or twice in the same direction over thestock reel and only then fed to thewinding spindle. That pair of rollerswhich does not includethe actuated roller is mounted, on both ends, onslides adapted tomove on the cheek pieces, said slides being urgedoutwards by springs. By means of lever mechanism, arranged in thelateral brackets on each side of the wiper, the pair of rollers mountedon the slide is moved by the compression of the springs, so that theends of the lever mechanism bear, at both ends, against shaft ends whichproject from the tops of the slip-on spindles and do not share therising and falling movement. This relative movement tensions andreleases the spring which exerts an outward pull on the slide in whichthe second pair of rollers is mounted, so that, this movementautomatically slackens the wiper material during the descent of thewiper, and tightens the material from, or in, the reel, during theascending movement.

ed in a trough, is forced by spring pressure against it. An endlessabsorbent cloth is drawn over the actuated roller and over those pairsof rollers situated nearer the wiper pads. The insertion or removal ofthis endless cloth can be effected, without any dismantling, by reasonof the fact that open bearings are provided and the actuated roller canbe withdrawn easily by means of a locking device, The wiping water inthe trough is transmitted to the endless cloth in an amount which iscontrollable, by spring pressure, and by the amplitude of movement ofthe actuated roller, and

thus passes, in controllable quantity, between-the wiper padand thewiper material. Under the pressure of the wiper, the liquid istransferred to the wiper material and damps it to the desired extent. i

The feeding of the wiper material and of the cloth for damping thelatter is effected by means of theshaft projecting from the upper end ofthe slip-on spindle whichis actuated and drives a pinion or chain wheel.The pinion is mounted on the upper end of the slip-on sleeve by means ofa feather key. In the case of the wipers operating with dry wipermaterial, this drive is provided on one side of the wiper only and, bymeans of Worm and wormwheel, actuates the roller effecting the positivefeed of the wiper material, and also the frictionally driven windingspindle. In the case of the wiperj operating with damped material, theshaft projecting from the slip-on spindle is actuated on both sides, sothat, on the one side, the described feed movement is imparted to thewiper material, and on the other side, the roller which feeds thedamping cloth is actuated in a similar manner.

and below the rising and falling slide.

The shafts projecting from the slip-0n spindle and effecting theslackening of the wiper material, are always mounted or secured in theaxial direction in a bracket of the machine frame In those cases wheresaid shafts must also initiate a feed movement, they are passedoutwards, under the brackets and through the machine frame in which theyare mounted, and are there driven by bevel gearing. Owing to the wipingmovement, these shafts must not be axially rigid. Therefore, an Oldhamcoupling is provided with sliding-contact surfaces which may run onballs or rollers. This coupling is between the rising-and-falling slideand the uppermost slide, or the slip-on spindle,

wheel actuating the eccentric.

.nently driven clutch member. feed movement. The dc-clutching arm raisesthe movable member of the clutch, and thus suspends between which theshaft is mounted. When circular slides are provided between the risingand falling slidesand the cross slides, a small Hardy coupling must beprovided above the Oldham coupling.

the other member being slidably mounted on the end 'of the shaft, whichit carries with it. The slidable member of the'clutch is pressed towardsthe other member by'one end of the spring the other end of which bearsagainst the hub of a handle mounted on the end of the shaft. Thispermits the feed movement by hand. The rotation of the handle is alsonecessary when the wipers are slipped on to the slip-on spindles, in

order that the featherkey on the shaft end may enter the grooves ofthose wheels which are mounted in the slip-on sleeves.

The clutch effecting the feed movement is actuated by means of ade-clutching arm. The arm engages in a groove in the movable member ofthe clutch and allows this member to engage only in an intermittentmanner with the perma- This starts the the feed movement. It is actuatedby a control device screwed on to the machine frame. Cams mounted. onthe shaft of the plate cylinder actuate a lever which enables thede-clutching arm to be raised and lowered. The lever, which makescontact with the cams by means of a roller, can be displaced in theaxial direction, by means of a screwed spindle, in such a manner as tocome on to a narrower or wider portion of the cams, and thus it ispossible to vary the period during which the clutch is in or out ofaction, and consequently the extent of the feed movement. The clutch canat once be thrown out of action permanently by acting on a crank whichturns an oblique surface provided in the control mechanism, and thus anydesired feed of the wiper material can be effected at any time '(thewipers being in the raised position) by turning the hand wheel.

One form of the invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings of which Figure l is a small diagrammatic sideelevation of the press, and Figure 2 a diagrammatic plan correspondingwith Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation to an enlargedscale of the press, Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV ofFigure 2 to the same scale as Figure 3. Figure 4a is a smalldiagrammatic side elevation of the press arranged for rainbow-typeprinting, Figure 5 is a section through one of the rising and fallingslides, with superimposed circular and cross slides, on the latter ofwhich is mounted the slipon spindle carrying the slip-on sleeve of thewiper device, Figure 5a is a side elevation of the slipon spindlementioned in Figure 5, Figure 6 is a left-hand elevation, in partialsection, of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a side elevation of a wiper for drywiper material, Figure 8 is a section taken on the line VIII-VIII ofFigure 9, Figure 9 is a righthand side-elevation of Figure '7, Figure 10is a section through a wiper, which operates with damp material. Figure11 shows a detail of the mechanism for actuating a roller of the wiperwhich may be easily detached and turned by hand when the automaticactuating mechanism is disconnected. Figure 12 shows one end of a shaftfor transmitting the feed movements, with the clutch therefor and thedriving wheel in combination with the eccentric wiper drive. Figure 13is a longitudinal section of the adjustable control mechanism foractuating the clutch to effect the feed movement. Figure 13a, is asection taken on the line XIIIa-XIHa of Figure 13.

The plate cylinder shaft 1, Figure l, which is mounted at both ends inthe machine frame 2, Figure 3, carries heatable printing beds 4 mountedon two ribbed plates or cheeks 3, Figure 4, which are keyed onto theshaft; further flexible printing plates 6, are clamped, in the manneremployed for offset plates, on to the printing beds 4 by means oftension devices 5. Below the plate cylinder is disposed an impressioncylinder 7, the impression surface of which carries an elastic cover orblanket 8.

Chain wheels 9, carrying chains 10, are mounted on both sides of theimpression cylinder, and gripper rods 11 are inserted between the twochains, at intervals corresponding to the periphcry of the impressioncylinder. The chains run from the impression cylinder to a second pairof chain driving wheels 12, at which, by means of rocking gripper rods13, sheets of paper are transferred from a feed table 14 and lay marks15, to the grippers of the gripper rods 11. In their further course, thechains 10 and gripper rods 11 In front of theintakeside-of theimpression cylinder is the paper-damping .mechanism;. a feed-roller 24mounted ina-trough23, is disposed underneathadamping roller 22 which ismounted on the :machine frame. The trough.23 is ,pivotally mountedonaspindle ,25, andis forced upwardly by an adjustablespring 26,,wherebythe contact pressure between the rollers 24 and 22 maybe Varied.'Anendless band of cloth 30 ex-tends around two parallel; rollers27-and29. Roller 27 is disposed on an axis parallel with and rotatableabout that of the damping roller 22 and the other Fell.

cured in position by 'nuts 42 (Figure 29between a pair of leversSldepending .froma pivot 32, said rollers 2'7 and 29 being separated bymeans of tension rods 28 so-as to, stretch the band therebetween. 1

Thearrangement issuchthat the band 30, which is clamped by its contactwith the damping roller 22, is adapted to be moved during its passagearound the roller 29. It is moved into and out of contact with theimpression cylinder '7 and thus with the sheets of paper to be'printed.This is accomplished by means of eccentrics (not I shown) which act uponthe levers 31. By altering the point of attachment of the ends of theroller 29 on the lever 31, the point of contact of the dampedendlessband30 with the impression cylinder 'lcan be adjusted tobe nearer to orfurther from the imp-ression'point. I

After having transmitted their ink to the paper during the impression,the plates 6, during their further course, are first inked again bymeans of an inker 33. During their further travel, the applied ink isrubbed into therecesses of the plates by a rubbing-in device 34. Theinked plates then pass to wipers 35,- 36 and 37, the first twoof which,and 3.6, operate withdry wiper material, and the third (3'7) with dampedmaterial. l l

For rainbow style copperplate printing,. the serial order of thespecified arrangements for making the plates 6 ready for, theimpression, namely,

.the inker33, (Figure 4a) ,the rubbing-in device 34, '1 the twodrywipers 35, 3 6 and the wet wiper 3'7, is

repeated over the periphery of the plate cylinder. i I'he wipers aremounted on slip-on spindles 41 (Figure 5a), *by means of slip-on,sleeves 40 mounted so as to swing about pivots 39, in brackets 38(Figure 9) on both sides, and are se The spindles 41 are each 'mountedon cross slides 43 which travel in guides 44 (Figure 6) on the upperpart of circular slides 45 (Figure 5), the latter in turn moving incircular guides 46 mounted on rising and falling slides 4'7. 'Theslides-43 are actuated by eccentrics 51,.through bell-cranklevers anddrawbars 50 (Figure 12) ,by means of draw- .bars 48 which engagewith theslides 43 by means of ball joints 49. The circular slide 45 (Figure 6)is actuated by a drawbar 52 by means of an eccentric 54 andlevermechanism 53 which extends through the machine frame 2 (Figure 3).

The rising and falling slide 47 (Figure 6) is capable ofbeing raised andlowered by means of shafts .55 :and theireccentric pins 56. By means of;a sliding block 57 (Figure 5), the pins engage a guide 58 mounted on themachine frame 2. Each of the shafts (Figure 6) which are rotatablethrough 180, are provided with a pinion 59 (Figure ,5) meshing withlarger pinions 60 which carry bell-crank levers 61, the extremities ofwhich are jointed byrods 62. The connecting rods 62 carry impact rollers63 which are alternately driven by strikers 64 and 65. (Figure 6).

jects, at the upper end beyond the slip-on spindle 41 (Figure 5) and,if' the shaft is to transmit a feed movement; it carries on its end afeather key 68engaging in grooves provided in ,a chain-wheel 69 mountedin the ,slip-on sleeve of the wiper. A downwardly extending part '74 ofthe said shaft 6'7 is supported coaxially in a bracket 76 bolted tothemachine frame, and is slidably mounted in an aperture in the slide47. If the shaft 6'7, '74 is to transmit a feed movement, it is actuatedfrom outside by means of bevel gearing '71, '72. When this shaft is notintended to transmit a feed movement, the bevel gear '71 isreplaced byanut, so as to keep a collar '73 of the shaft tight up against thebracket '70 (Figure 5). The shaft part 6'7 mounted in the upper slide,and the shaft part '74 mounted in the rising and falling slide,

are connected together in a cavity provided in the slide by an Oldhamcoupling '75 and a Hardy coupling '76 altho.ugh,'if the circularmovement is not required, the Hardy coupling may be omitted. l i

That end of the shaft '67 which projects beyond the ,slip-on sleeve 40and the chain wheel 69, does not share the rising and falling movementof the slide mechanism andwiper, and consequently causes a'lever '77pivoted as at 83 to the wiper bracket 38 (Figure 9) and which bearsagainst its extremity, to be actuated; By means of another lever 78, aspring '79 is tensioned whereby two rollers 80 and 81 (Figure '7)together with the slide 82 carrying the bearings of these rollers, aredrawn back. During the descent of the wiper on to the plate, the wipermaterial is, therefore, automatically slackened. During the ascent ofthe wipers the slip-on sleeve rises accompanied by the pivot 83 (Figure9 of the lever 77. When the spring '79 is released, the'winding tensionon the wiper material is automatically restored. The end of the shaft6'7 must always discharge the function of automatically slackening thewiper material, whether said shaft is actuated for the transmission of afeed movement, or not. When a feed movement in the wiper mechanism mustbe effected by the shaft 67, '74, (Figure 5),

then a shaft 84, which extends through the machine frame 2 and on whichthe bevel gear '72 is mounted, is connected with a continuously drivengear wheel 85 (Figure 12) mounted on said shaft. In the special case inwhich a cross-motion driving eccentric 51 is mounted on the same axis,the wheel 85 may be driven by means of ,epicyclic gearing 86. The wheel85 is furnished with a boss formed as one member 8'7 of a saw-toothclutch the other member (88) of which is slidably mounted on the shaft84. The wheel 85 is pressed against the member 87 by a spring 89 the endof which bears against the collar 90 of ahandwheel. The clutch member 88is provided with a circumferential groove 91 for engagement withathrowoff lever 92,v which is actuated by control mechanism and allowsthe clutch 87, 88 to engage only at intervals determined by the controlmechanism. The control mechanism itself consists of a hollow pillar 93(Figure 13), which is bolted to the machine frame 2 and accommodates inits bore a screw-threaded spindle 94 adapted to be rotated from outsideby a hand wheel 95. The rotation of the spindle 94 moves a nut 96 to andfro in the hollow pillar thereby enabling an external sleeve 9'7 to bemoved to and fro by means of lugs extending outwardly from the nut. Twodiametrically opposite arms 98' and 100 project from the sleeve 97. Oneof these (98) has a roller 99 mounted at its extremity (Figure 13a) andthe other (100) is under the influence of a spring 101 which causes theroller 99 to be retained in contact with cams carried by the shaft ofthe plate cylinder. The trailing of the roller 99 on the stops of theplate cylinder causes the turning of a sleeve 102,. carried by thesleeve 97 (Figure 13). By displacing the sleeve 97 axially with respectto the plate cylinder, the roller 99 encounters broader or narrowerzones of cams whereby the intervals at which the lever 98 moves arevaried.

The upper end of the sleeve 102 is formed with a ratchet-like crownadapted to engage with a corresponding crown on a member 103 mounted ina sleeve 104 which is integral with the throwoff lever 92 and is adaptedto slide on the axis of the hollow pillar 93. The member 103 is providedwith teeth 105 engaging with those of a toothed pinion 106 on a shaft108 which is adapted 'to be turned by a crank 107 adapted to be retainedin definite positions by means of a stop 109. In the position in whichthe crowns of the member 103 and sleeve 102 are in engagement, rotationof. the sleeve 102 raises thesleeve 104 and therefore the throw-oil?lever 92,.thus disengaging the clutch 87, 88 (Figure 12). During thereturn movement of the sleeve 97 (Figure 13), which occurs when theroller 99 runs oif the cam,'the reengagement of the crowns allows thesleeve 104, and therefore the throw-off lever 92,'to pass into theposition in which the clutch 87, 88 (Figure 13) is re-engaged. Byturning the crank (Figure 13), the member 103 is rotated in such amanner that the sleeve 104 and throw-ofi lever 92 keep the clutch 87, 88(Figure 12) continuously out of action. 1 The wiping mechanism consistsof two cheek plates 110 (Figure 9), connected together bya cross bar 111and each having mounted on 'its outer'side two brackets 38, betweenwhich the slip-on spindles are oscillatingly mounted in pivots 39.Between the cheek plates 110 are disposed pairs of rollers 80, 81 and114,115, on opposite sides of the wiper pads 112, 113 (Figure 8), therollers 80, 81 applying tension to the wiper material, as alreadydescribed. The roller 114 is actuated (Figures 7 and 8) through themedium of'a worm wheel 116 and worm 117, the latter roller 123 ismounted between the cheek plates and an endless rubber cloth 124 passesover the rollers 114 and 123 and bears against the roller 115.

The Wiper material unwinding from a stock reel 125 is led between therubber cloth 124 and the roller 115' and is drawn along, at this point,by the rubber cloth 124 whereafter it passes round the roller 115,underneath the wiper pads 112, 113, under the roller 80, over the roller81, then back again underthe pads 112, 113, outwardly around the roller114 and to the winding spindle 121. The double layer of wiper materialunder the wiper pads 112, 113 may also be increased to 4- or 6-fold bypassing the material over the stockr-eel 125 and along the describedpath, once or twice more, and is only then led to the winding spindle121.

At each wet wiper mechanism there are disposed, between the pairs ofrollers 114, 115 and 80, 81 (Figure 10), two further pairs of rollers126, 127 and 128, 129, which are mounted between the cheek plates of thewiper mechanism on each side of the wiper pads. A driven roller 130 anda jockey roller 131 are also provided in the upper part of the wipermechanism. A roller 133 is mounted in a trough 132 and is pressedagainst the roller 130 by a spring. The roller 133 is coated withabsorbent material and transfers liquid contained in the trough 132'toan endless band of cloth running over the roller 130, the amounttransferred being regulated by spring pressure, the endless band ofcloth passing then under the roller 128, under the wiper pads, under theroller 127, over the roller 126, again under the wiper pads, then overthe roller 129 and back to the roller 130. The forward movement of theendless band is effected by the roller 130 in the same manner as that ofthe wiper material. The forward movement is efiected in this case on theopposite side of the wiper material feeding. The endless cloth carriesthe moisture between the wiper pads and the wiper material, where it istransferred to the material by the wiping pressure.

The endless cloth can be removed from the wiper mechanism, withoutdismantling the lat- "te jthe lower rollers 126 and 129 being providedwith open bearings, whilst the driven roller 130 is actuated by aremovable driving pin 134 (Figure 11), mounted in a bush 135 mounted inthe cheek plate 110. On the outside of this bush is mounted the drivenworm wheel which surrounds the withdrawable driving pin 134 by means'ofits boss 136 and a sleeve 137, said pin being pressed inwards by aspring 138 housed in the bush 135. The pin 134 has a central bore 139,in which the spring 140 presses a block, provided with a cross pin 141and handle 142, against a nut 143. Pulling out the handle 142 withdrawsthe driving pin 134, thereby enabling the roller 130, the other end ofwhich is mounted on a conical bearing nipple, to be taken out of thewiper mechanism. On pushing the hand wheel 142 inward, the cross pin 141enters the boss 136 and thus passes out of the guides in the sleeve 137,so that the roller 130 can be turned by hand by means of the hand wheel142, the movement having been declutched by the pushing inward of saidwheel.

. In both the dry and the wet wiper mechanisms the wiper pads 112, 113(Figure 10) consists of elastic strips, to the edges of which issecured, all the way along, a bent strip of flexible sheet metal 144 ofsuch curvature that it bears only on the edges of the pad. The pressureis, therefore, transmitted to the edges alone and, consequently, theelastic strip is able properly to adapt itself to the curvature of theplate; Blocks 145, riveted in the centre, are provided at definiteintervals all along the metal strips 144, and are recessed on the upperface to receive the ends of the pressure pins 146 which are insertedloosely into the recessed blocks, so as to allow freedom of movementbetween the two.

The pressure pins 146 are mounted at two places in the crossbar 1 11 tobe slidable in the directionof impression. The upper bearing isconstituted by a screwed bush 147, which is adjustable in the crossbar,towards and away from a collar .148. The distance between said collarand the lower end of the screwed bush may be variably adjusted to varythe tension of the spring 149 and thereby the wiping pressure in eachzone; The pressure pins 146 in the two successively disposed .wiper pads112, 113' are mounted alternately in the crossbar 111 to distribute thepressure as uniformly as possible over the surface. The pins 146 arethreaded at their upper end, so that the downward movement of thepadscan be restricted, the cheek nuts 150 being just clear of the screw147 when the wipers bear against the plates.

The press operates in the followingmanner; The paper to be printed isplaced on the feed 7 table 14 (Figure 4), in contact with the lay marksbeing carried'onwardsby the gripper rod chains 10, in the direction ofthe pair, of wheels 12, and delivered into the delivery tray 17. Anoffset sheet is deposited, over each printed sheet, from the sideby'me'ans of the offset-sheet feed mechanism (Figure 2), so that, in theprinted pi1e,an

ofiset sheet lies upon each printed sheet.

In order to prepare the printing plates '6' (Figure '4) forpr'i'nting,they are first provided with the necessary amount of "ink by the inkinggear 33, the ink being then rubbed into the recesses in the plates bythe succeeding rubbing-in mechanism 34. Thesucceeding wiper mechanisms35, 36 operate with dry wiping material, and remove the surplus ink fromthe surface of theprinting plates, leaving merely a thin film ofinkbehind. This film is removed by the wet wiper mechanism 37, thus leavingthe plates quite'ready for printing. In this condition, the plates moveonward in a completelyaccessible mannerand at a convenient workinglevel, to the printing 'zone, so that any final wiping which may benecessary can be performed by hand. V

When the press is arranged for rainbow-style printing, only separatestreaks'of ink are applied to the plates by the first inking gear, whichis divided by means of cheeks. These streaks are rubbed into therecesses of the plate by the rubbing-in roller, which is adjusted foravery short stroke, and'the resulting inked strips on the printingplates are then completely wiped. By means of the succeeding inkinggear, which is also'di vided by means of cheeks, ink is applied to thoseportions of the plates which have not yet been .inked. This ink isrubbed in, as already'deand is removed from theplane surface bytheiterates succeeding wipers. In this manner the plates are left coatedalong the lines of contact with'pare 'a'llel strips of differentlycoloured inks, which blend'to form mixed shades; In this case also, theplates pass in a freely accessible manner and at a convenient working;level, from the final wiper to the impression cylinder. Moreover, bycarefully adjusting the press, rainbow-style impressions can be alsoobtained without duplicating the mechanisms which make the plates'readyforprinting.

The flexible thin metal plates employed in the press may be electros,the backs of which are planed, milled or ground parallel with thesurface plane, the plates being secured on the machining bed by means ofa vacuum.

The machining bed may also be a cylindrical surface onto which theplates are clamped, and are machined in that condition. When directlyetched plates are employed, the planar parallel surface is etched andused as such in the press. These thin intaglio plates may also beprepared by'any other suitable process.

The described press is suitable for all kinds of intaglios. The pressmay be used for the printing of bonds of great value, treasury notes,shares etc.

I claim':

1. In a rotary copper plate printing press, a plate cylinder to receivethe printing plates, an impression cylinder operatively associated withthe plate cylinder, a paper damping device asso-, c'iated with theimpression cylinder, a feed table, a conveyor mechanism operating tocarry the paper from the feed table about the impression cylinder to be"moistened by the damping device and then to receive an impressionbetween the plateand impression cylinders, an inking device applying inkto the printing plates, a pressure arrangement'to "distribute the inkover the plates, wiping devices beyond the pressure arrangement toremove the excess inkfrom the plates and "a delivery mechanism toreceive the print from the conveyor. 1 l

of wiping mechanism comprising a pair of reciprocatin'g spindlessupported on two of said shafts, means supported'on saidspindles tocarry a strip of wiping materialfwiper elements arranged in said. meansto back the material during the wiping operation, and'a tensioningdevice carried by's'aid means and operated by the reciprocating movementof spindles to automatically release and tension the material over saidwiper elements.

"4. A wiper for a rotary copper plate printing ing the wiping material,a'chain connecting the reel and "said sprocket to'actuate the former, apair of rollers, on'e thereof being actuated by the sprocket, anendlessrubbercloth belt supported by thepair of rollers, a thirclroller bearingon the belt andcooperatingtherewith to advance the wiping material'beingunwound from'the said 'reel;

5. =Ina rotary copper'plate'printing press, ha'vi i'ng a plurality ofrotary shafts, the combination of a wet wiping mechanism, comprising apair of reciprocating spindles supported on two of said shafts, meanssupported on said spindles to carry a strip of wiping material, wipingelements arranged on said means to back the material during the wipingoperation, an absorbent belt disposed between the wiping elements andthe wiping material, means for advancing the belt, a sleeve mounted onone of said spindles having a sprocket and chain connection with thesaid belt advancing means, and a tensioning device carried by the saidfirst means and operated by the reciprocating movement of the spindlesto automatically release and tension the material over said wiperelements.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said wiping elementcomprises a plurality of wiping pads consisting of elastic strips,elastic bridge members holding said strips-marginally thereof,supporting members for the said pads, springs associated therewith,means to adjust the tension of said springs to control the wipingpressure of the pads.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, comprising guides for the rotary andreciprocating movements of the wiping mechanism, supporting meansengaging said guides and the wiping mechanism, a plurality of shafts foractuating said supporting means and wiping mechanism,

means eccentrically supporting the said second named shafts, the latterbeing capable of rotation for 180", driving pinions for actuating thesaid second named shafts, connecting rods carried by the latter, impactrollers carried by the said rods and adjustable thereon, actuatingstrikers cooperating with the said impact rollers for timing the rotaryand reciprocating movements of the wiping device.

8. A device as claimed in claim 3, including a slip-on spindle, a crossslide supporting the latter, guides for controlling the reciprocatingmovements of the said wiping mechanism, one of the said shafts being atwo part member slidably mounted between said slip-on spindle and thesaid guides, a bracket supporting the said slidable shaft longitudinallythereof, the upper part of said slidable shaft being connected to thewiping mechanism by means of an Oldham and a Hardy coupling to produceparticipation of the said slidable shaft in the reciprocating and rotarywiping movements of the wiping mechanlsm.

9. In a rotary copper plate printing press provided with a wipingmechanism, a reel for the wiping material, a cam associated therewith, astriker cooperating with the said cam, the cam groove actuating the reeland timing the advance of material.

FRIEDRICH v. HEINRICH.

